The bed and breakfast has been quiet for the past week or so, which has given us an opportunity to enjoy the beauty that autumn presents. Bike rides along the Clutha river at Wanaka and Clyde-Alexandra are spectacular with the autumn leaves.

Closer to home, Meg and Barry completed the challenging Kanuka Loop walk from our backyard. It is really quite spectacular but equally quite challenging. It suits the fitter walker.

In the garden, plants are continuing to grow despite daylight hours shortening. We have planted so that there is always something flowering. Winter and Spring are the main flowering times for most of our Proteas and Leucadendrons. The bumble bees and an occasional honey bee are loving the Osteospermums and Baby Blue Eucalypts. The native bees have gone to ground (literally) to come out again when the kanuka trees flower in December and January.

In the sky, we are fortunate to have many clear nights. They also happen early, so we can go stargazing at 8pm and not have to wait until 11-12pm like in summer. Jupiter is low and dead ahead–it’s alway fun to look at Jupiter and see how many moons you can see. Typically 4, but sometime one or two are in front of or behind Jupiter, but it’s quite the sight when they are all lined up. Like our whole solar system where the plants rotate in a similar plane, the moons of Jupiter also line up neatly. We’ve had quite a bit or aurora activity too. The Stargazing Calendar gives real time indications if there is an aurora happening.